For those who like their T-shirt to come with the stamp of authenticity that only a mumbled "Yeah, it's by a local artist" can truly convey: good news. Found in the basement of the outwardly hip, inwardly commercial Sanlitun Village mall is the latest branch of The Thing, a Shanghai-based street wear company whose first Beijing branch opened in Xidan's Joy City.
Coming to Sanlitun is a smart move, given that a quite shocking amount of foreigners never actually leave the "Dongbei" triangle of Gongti, Lido and the CBD, and this shop - with its 148-yuan T-shirts and a design so hip, it made me feel a complete square in my polo and jeans - is clearly aimed at those types.
In fact, the place itself is worth a visit just to admire its space; when we dropped by, they were displaying some sexy work by a Guangzhou artist called Mee Wong. It also looks like they've got some kind of business arrangement going on with the local junk yard, judging by the half-wreck that sits by the window and the sculptures of broken 80s ghetto-blasters alongside various auto parts. There's presumably a streetwise message there but it's all a bit too niu for this old rebel to decipher.
Fortunately, the sweetly dopey girl at the counter (and the absence of a posse of armed street hoods) will help put the uncool at ease as they browse their selection of Ts, jeans and hats. A pair of funky strides will set you back 328 yuan while some bracingly tight-looking swimming trunks (168 yuan) allows fellow bathers know you are one cool customer with minimal cloth and fuss.
Perhaps most interesting are the tops, for which the word "funky" is entirely applicable - in fact, I'd struggle to find an alternative description. Most will raise a smile among those in the know - an image of the Google search page, for example, alongside some hairy crabs is a nod to the ironic "river crab"– meme while other, cheekier gags are hard-to-miss. There's also the requisite amount of Mao-era iconography given the post-modern treatment - sound familiar? Yup, this place will definitely give Plastered T-shirts a run for their money.
Address: LG, Sanlitun Village, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District
Chinese address: 朝阳区工体北路三里屯Village
Open: 9am – 10pm
